San Bernardino Co. tests fighting fires with oxygen vibrations, sound waves instead of water

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. (KGO) — The San Bernardino County Fire Department is testing a new firefighting system that uses sound waves instead of water to extinguish flames.

It may sound like something out of a movie, but developers say it’s backed by real science.

The technology, developed by Sonic Fire Tech, relies on infrared sensors to detect a fire and trigger sound waves aimed at disrupting the blaze.

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“They use infrared technology to detect flames that starts off a trigger to start the sound waves. We vibrate the oxygen at a rate the fire can’t consume it and breaks the chemical reaction,” said Ryan Remington, a developer with the company.

The system is currently being designed for use inside homes as an alternative to traditional sprinklers.

Developers hope it can eventually be adapted for outdoor use to help prevent the spread of wildfires or assist firefighters in the field.